Stephanie Russell, the communications director for United Way, said every cent that the fundraiser takes in goes straight into supplies to try and help the most students possible.

"Over 45,000 students in the Coastal Bend need school supplies," Russell said. "We do this because we understand how important education is and how leveling the playing field for students really helps."

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The school supplies collected that will go to schools in the Coastal Bend.(Photo11: Mark Young/Caller-Times)

The supplies for Operation SOS are purchased in various ways. H-E-B offers bags of basic school supplies, which can be purchased and are then given to students. Businesses hold school-supply drives, and monetary donations are also collected.

Stephanie Jordan, the resource development director for United Way, said the agency has high hopes for this year.

"Last year, we were able to raise $40,000 and support 10,000 students. We're hoping to at least better than that even a little bit," Jordan said.

The bags have basic supplies such as pencils, paper, scissors and more.

"This is also helpful to teachers because teachers end up spending a great deal of their own money on school supplies for students who for whatever reason arrive the first day of school empty-handed," Jordan said. "It's tough for them because, you know how peer-pressure is, little kids, they see their friends with school supplies and we really like to be able to give these supplies to students so that they are just like everyone else."

"This is my fourth year doing this and each year I get to see all the schools come and load the supplies up," Whitaker said. "So, I know that these supplies are going to kids who could really use them."